caudal anesthesia, the injection of a local anesthetic agent into the caudal (end) portion of the epidural space through the sacral hiatus to anesthetize sacral and lower lumbar nerve roots. Once popular in obstetrics, it is now rarely performed except in pediatric anesthesia. Complications of caudal anesthesia include infection, a high (5% to 10%) rate of failure, frequent neurological complications, dural puncture, and hypotension. See also regional anesthesia.
